A man has been found guilty of murdering his former lover’s new partner in what has been described as a “cold-blooded execution”.
Michael Bretton, 41, is believed to have used a samurai sword in the fatal attack on Craig Hurcombe in Gurney Slade on 1 January.
Bristol Crown Court heard that Mr Hurcombe, 39, was previously in a relationship with a woman named Kate Saunders, which ended in 2023. Two years after their separation, Ms Saunders began a casual relationship with Bretton, whom she met via an online dating website.
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However, Ms Saunders later rekindled her relationship with Mr Hurcombe, prompting Bretton to become “clearly jealous”. On New Year’s Day, Bretton, who worked in a chocolate factory, went to Mr Hurcombe’s workplace to confront him.
It is alleged that Bretton used a samurai sword to kill Mr Hurcombe before burying his body in a shallow grave nearby. Originating from Shaftesbury, Dorset, Bretton denied murder, claiming Mr Hurcombe’s death was accidental.
After a two-week trial, a jury of seven men and five women unanimously found him guilty of murder.
Judge William Hart said, “Only one sentence is available for murder, which is life imprisonment. I must now determine the minimum term Mr Bretton must serve before he is eligible for release on licence.”
The judge commended Mr Hurcombe’s family for their “dignity and restraint” throughout the proceedings, describing the case as “extraordinary” and akin to a crime novel.
Prosecutor Mark Cotter KC outlined that Bretton had fitted trackers to the vehicles of both Ms Saunders and Mr Hurcombe, behaviour that escalated until he murdered Mr Hurcombe with a sword.
“He was obsessed with Kate Saunders and clearly jealous of her renewed relationship with Craig Hurcombe,” Mr Cotter told the court.
Evidence showed Mr Hurcombe was at Blanchard’s work yard in Gurney Slade on the evening of 1 January. CCTV footage caught him waving to a camera at 6.26pm as he walked toward his lorry, moments before he was believed to have been fatally stabbed.
His mother reported him missing on 10 January, and four days later, his body was found in a shallow grave on woodland at the work site.
Pathologist Dr Amanda Jeffery confirmed Mr Hurcombe’s cause of death was a single long stab wound penetrating his torso.
A rusty samurai sword, believed to be the murder weapon and recovered from the River Stour near Sturminster Newton, was presented as evidence.
Bretton was arrested on 12 January and largely remained silent during police interviews, except to deny involvement.
He maintained during the trial that Mr Hurcombe’s death was accidental.
Sentencing is scheduled for Friday afternoon.